Consumers may soon have more environmentally-friendly household products such as detergents, soaps and oral hygiene products to choose from, as a new joint research venture into the production of such products was inked on Monday.

Japanese consumer care giant, Lion Corporation, will be working with the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*Star), to develop greener, safer household products such as detergents and soaps that are also anti-odour and anti-bacteria.

Under the research collaboration agreement that both parties signed on Monday, Lion Corporation will leverage on technology designed by A*Star's Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE) to develop such products.

The technology - a molecule made up of natural material formulations - would reduce the need to develop products using chemical biocides, which kill germs. Currently, many household products are made using such biocides. These cause harm to the environment when the chemical is trickled back into the water cycle through water run-off.

In a statement on Monday, A*Star said that both organisations are looking to set up a joint laboratory at IMRE where its scientists can work on the project with Lion.

Said Dr Toshio Kakui, director and executive officer of Lion: "Lion is confident that this research collaboration with IMRE will lead to an enhancement of Lion's own technological capabilities and development of innovative products."